Apparatus for removing obstructions from pipes.



P'SEEN'TED SEPT. 15, .1903.

E'. s. T12-mm, APPARATUS P033. RBMOVING OBS'S'ERLGTIONS PROM PIPES.

LRELILGA'ILQJN: ULEB) SEPT. 13, 1902-.

E0 MODEL.

I S14/menton,

Jalin- UNITED STATES atented September 15, 1901?.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. S. 'TAYLOR,`OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,120, dated September 15, 1903.

Application {iled September 13, 1902. Serial No. 123,337. (No model.) X

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, JOHN E. S. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulv Apparatus for Removing Obstructions from Pipes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means forremoving obstructions from the drain-pipes and traps of basins, sinks, bath-tubs, and the like, and is designed to apply fluid-pressure to the drain-pipe,so as'to force the obstruction therefrom, and also to Stop or close the overflowpipe, so as to prevent escape'of the fluid-pressure through said pipe.

It is furthermore designed to employ compressed air as the agent for removing obstructions and to have the apparatus arranged in compact form, so as to be conveniently applied to the drain-pipe without removing any of the fittings, and also to have the apparatus adjustable, so that the closure may be conveniently applied tothe overflow-pipe.

With these and other objects in View the present invention consists in the combination and arrangementof parts, as will be herein after more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, .and minor details may be made within the scope ofthe claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. l

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a sectional view taken through one end of a bath-tub and the drain and overiiow pipes with the present apparatus in position for removing an obstruction therefrom. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the apparatus applied to a basin or lstationary washstand. Fig.' 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a plan view of theadjustable clamp for connecting the overiiow-pipe closure to the body of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof. Fig. 6 is a detail plan View of the swinging arm which carries the closure for the overiiow-pipe.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the gures of the drawings. l

reception of the thumb-screw or bolt 13.

In carrying ont the present invention I einploy a force-pump consisting of a hollow cyl- Vinder 1, which is provided at its upper end with a removable closure cap 2, through which works a plunger-rod 3, provided at its upper end with a handle et and at its lower end with a suitable plunger or piston 5. The lower extremity of this pump-cylinder is externally tapered and smooth, as indicated at 6, 'and above this tapered portion the cylinder is externally screwthreaded for the reception of upper and lower nuts or clamping members 7 and 8, between which is snugly clamped an inverted rubber cup 9,which iiares outwardly to a diameter considerably greater than that of the pump-cylinder and is also projected below the lower end thereof. The lower tapered end of the cylinder forms the support for the pump and the inverted cup extends slightly beyond the lower end of the v cylinder, whereby when the pump is placed in position the cup will be slightly compressed, as shown in Fig. 2. v

Mounted externally upon the pump-cylin der is a clamp member l0, which is in the form of a split ring having its Opposite ends formed into circular ears 11 and.12, having central alined perforations for the reception of a winged thumb-screw 13, whereby the clamp may be 'adjusted to snugly hug the pump-cylinder, so that it may be held at any elevation upon the cylinder. One of the earsas, for instance, the one designated by the numeral 11-is provided upon its inner face with a circular series of radial sockets or seats 14. f A

Supported upon the clamp member 10 is a swinging arm 15, the lower end of which is reduced to 'form a circular knuckle 16, which is adapted to be received between the ears of the clamp and hasa central opening for the One face or the knuckle 16 is provided with a radial rib or tooth 17, which is adapted to take into any one of the sockets or seats 14 of the ear 11, whereby the arm 15 may be adjusted vertically upon the bolt or screw 13 as a center and then rigidly held at any adjusted position.

At the upper end of the arm l5 there is a rubber cup 18, the back of which is secured IOO ' of the cylinder and the arm 15 swung into anv to a disk-shaped plate lf) by means of a screwthreadcd fastening 20, which pierces the back of the cup and enters the plate, the latter being provided with a shank or stem 21,Which is fitted within a longitudinal bifurcation 22 in the upper end of the arm and held therein by means of a screw-threaded fastening 23, which forms a pivotal connection between the cup and the arm 15.

In using the device the tapered lower end of the pump-cylinder is placed in the drainopening of a bath-tub 2l, as indicated in Fig. 1, or a basin 25, as shown in Fig. 2, and forced down, so as to create a suction between the cup 9 and the bottom of the tub or basin, so as to form an air-tight connection between the two. lower end of the pump-cylinder is tapered, so as to snugly fit drain-openings of different diameters. After the pump has been 1itted to the drain-openin g the clamp member 10 is adjusted upon the pump-cylinder and the arm 15 swung in such a position as to permit convenient iitting of the cup 18 to the overflowopening 26, after which the thumb-screw or bolt 13 is tightened to rigidly hold the clamp upon the pump-cylinder and also rigidly support the arm in its adjusted position. Then the pump has thus been placed in position, the handle is manipulated to force air downwardly through the drainpipe 27, so as to dislodge any obstruction which may be in the trap 28. It will now be understood that the purpose of the cup 18 is to close the upper end of the overflow-pipe 29, so that all of the air will be forced downwardly through the drainpipe, and hence effectively dislodge any obstructions. During the manipulation of the pump the cylinder is, of course, steadied with 011e hand and there should beaslight lateral pressure toward the arm 15, so as to hold the cup 18 snugly over the overflow-opening.

\Vhen the overflow-opening is at a considerable height above the drain-opening-as, for instance, in a bath-tub-the clamp member 10 is drawn down toward the lower end upright position, so as to bring the cup 18 over the overflow, and when applied to a basin, as in Fig. 2, the clamp member is elevated and the arm 15 swung downwardly. By this adjustment of the parts the device may be conveniently accommodated to bathtubs, basins, sinks, rbc., without regard to the distance between the drain-opening and the overfiow.

A veryimportant advantage of the present device is that it does not require a skilled workman to operate the same, and, moreover, does not necessitate the removal of any of the fittings of the bath-tub, basin, sink, orthe like, and it is therefore particularly adapted for domestic use as well as for the use of plumbers.

Besides the adjustment of the clamp lOlongitudinally upon the pump-cylinder it is also It will here be observed that the` rotatably adjustable thereon in an annular direction about the pump.

What I claim is- 1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-pipe, and flexible means carried by the pump for closing an overllowopening.

2. An apparatus ofthe character described, comprising a pump having means for connection With a drain-opening, and pivotallymounted means adjustable longitudinally upon the pump for closing an overIlow-openmg.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, a clamp adjustable longitudinally lupon the pump, and means carried by the clamp for closing an overflowopening.

4. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means forconnection with a drain-opening, a clamp adjustable longitudinally upon the pump, a verticallyswinging arm having an adjustable pivotal connection with the clamp, and means carried by the arm for closing a drain-opening.

5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, a clamp adjustable longitudinally upon the pump, and means pivotally carried by the clamp for closing an overflow-opening.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, a clamp adjustable longitudinally upon the pump, a verticallyswinging arm having an adjustable pivotal connection with the clamp, and means pivotally carried by the arm for closing an over- How-opening.

7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, a clamp adjustably embracing the pump, a vertically-swinging arm having one end fitted between the ends of the clamp, a thumb-screw piercing the ends of the clamp and the arm to bind the clamp upon the pump and also to adjustably connect the arm to the clamp, and means carried by the arm for closing an overflow-opening.

8.' An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, a split clamp adj ustably embracing the pump with its opposite ends formed into ears having central alined perforations, the inner face of one of the ears being provided with a series of seats .or notches, an arm having one end iitted between thc ears and provided with a projection to engage the seats or notches, a fastening piercing the ears and the arm, and means carried by the outer end of the arm for closing an overflow-opening.

. 9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connec- IOO tion with a drain-opening, and means for closing an overtlow-opening, said means being carried by the pump and adjustable around the latter in an annular direction.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump havingmeans for connection with a drain-opening, and means for closing an overflow-opening, said means being carried by the pump and adjustable clamp, and means carried by the arm for closing an overow-opening.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, and also carrying pivotally-mounted Vmeans for closing an loveriioW-opening, consisting of an elastic cup.

13. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with a drain-opening, al member carried by and adjustable upon the pump, and an elastic cup having its back secured to the member.

14. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having means for connection with la drain-opening, a member adjustable longitudinally upon the pump, an arm having an adjustable pivotalconnection with the member, and an elastic cup having its back provided with a stem which is connected to the outer end of the arm.

v15. An apparatus of the character described, oomprising a pump, and an elastic cup flexible from top to bottom Yand carried by and embracing the discharge end of the pump-cylinder, the latter being projected into the cup and terminated short of the open outer end thereof and forming a support for the pump, whereby the cup will be partially compressed when the device is in use.

16. An apparatus of the character de`A scribed, comprising a pump having the discharge end of itscylinder tapered, and an elastic cup iiexible from top to bottom and having its back embracing and secured to the cylinder, the tapered end of the latter being projected into the cup and terminating short of the outer end thereof, whereby the cup will be compressed when the pump is placedin position forl use. V

17. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a pump having the discharge end of its cylinder externally tapered, and an elastic cup iiexible from top to bottom having its back embracing and secured to the cylinder, the tapered end of the latter being projected into the cup and terminated short of the open outer end thereof and forming a placed in position for use.

18. An' apparatus oi the character de-` scribed, comprising a pump havingthe discharge end of its cylinder externally screwthreaded inwardly from the tapered portion, a pair of clamp-nuts or members iitted to the screw-threaded part of the cylinder, and a cup iiexible from top to bottom and having its back embracing the' pump cylinder and clamped between the nuts or members, the tapered end of the cylinder being projected into the cup and terminated short of the outer end thereof and forming a support for the pump, whereby the cup will be partially compressed when the pump is placed in position for use. I

19. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a pump-cylinder, of a plunger working therein, a plungerrod carrying the plunger, a handle connected to the plunger-rod, an elastic cup embracing the discharge end of the pump-cylinder and projected beyond the same, a member carried externally by and adjustable upon thecylinder, a swinging arm having an adjustable pivotal connection with the member, and an elastic cup having its back secured tothe swinging arm.

In testimony that I claimvthe foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. ,I A

JOHN E. S. TAYLOR. 'Witnessesz B. J. BERRY, W. G. CRossMAN.

vsupport for the pump, whereby the cup will be partially compressed when the pump is 

